Tang Garden (2019) Board Game

Tang Garden is a board game that was released in 2019 by ThunderGryph Games. Designed by Francesco Testini and Pierluca Zizzi, the game is set in the beautiful Tang Dynasty and focuses on creating a harmonious garden filled with stunning scenery and unique landscapes. The game has received praise for its gorgeous artwork by Matthew Mizak and its engaging gameplay mechanics.

Game Components of Tang Garden

Game Board: Represents the garden landscape with spaces for tiles and decorations.

Garden Tiles: Used to create the landscape, balancing water, rock, and greenery elements.

Decoration Cards: Include pavilions, bridges, trees, flowers, birds, and fish to decorate the garden.

Character Miniatures: Represent noblemen and other characters that visit the garden.

Panorama Tiles: Add a 3D perspective to the garden, enhancing the visual experience.

Player Boards: Track players’ nature balance and character abilities.

Landscape Tokens: Used in solo gameplay to manage tile placement.

Coins: Serve as the scoring mechanism.

How To Setup Tang Garden

To set up the game, players start by preparing the game board, which includes placing the garden tile stacks and panorama inserts. Each player receives a player board to manage their nature balance and character miniatures. Decoration cards are shuffled and placed within reach. In solo gameplay, the setup involves arranging the garden tile stacks with associated decoration cards and using special Lantern tokens.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Tile Placement: Players place garden tiles to balance water, rock, and greenery elements.

Decoration Placement: Players draw and place decoration cards to earn prestige.

Character Management: Balancing nature elements attracts new characters, each with unique abilities.

Panorama Placement: Adding 3D perspectives to the garden for additional prestige.

Game Objective

The objective is to earn the most prestige points by creating a harmonious and visually appealing garden. This is achieved by balancing nature elements, placing decorations, and strategically positioning characters and panoramas.

Player Experience

**Tang Garden** offers a serene and strategic gameplay experience, where players act as Imperial Garden Designers during the Tang Dynasty. The game requires careful planning and balance to create an aesthetically pleasing garden that attracts noble visitors. The solo game adds a puzzle element, where players must manage tile and decoration placement under strict rules.

Pros

Aesthetic Appeal: The game features beautiful, zen-like artwork and 3D panoramas.

Strategic Depth: Balancing nature elements and character abilities requires thoughtful planning.

Replayability: Each game is unique due to the random placement of tiles and decorations.

Solo Mode: Offers a challenging and engaging solo experience.

Cons

Complex Rulebook: The rules can be confusing, especially for solo gameplay.

Crowded Board: The board can become overcrowded, making it difficult to see all elements clearly.

Component Quality: Some players may find the tall decorations obstructive.

Personal Thoughts on Tang Garden

**Tang Garden** is ideal for players who appreciate strategic tile placement games and are drawn to a serene, thematic experience. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy games with a strong aesthetic component and are willing to invest time in understanding the complex rules. The game caters well to both multiplayer and solo players, offering a unique challenge in each mode. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy with beauty, **Tang Garden** is an excellent choice.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.